Seat slide apparatus for vehicle

ABSTRACT

A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle includes a first rail, a second rail slidably movable relative to the first rail, a lock member restricting a movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, a memory member movably supported within an inner void between the first rail and the second rail and prevented from moving, a first holding member holding the memory member so that the memory member is movable along with the second rail, a second holding member holding the memory member so as to maintain the engagement between the memory member and the first rail, a support bracket fixed to the second rail in the inner void and supporting one end portion of the second holding member, and a rail-side engagement portion arranged at the second rail, engaged with a holding-member-side engagement portion, and preventing the second holding member from being loosened from the second rail.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 toJapanese Patent Application 2010-070859, filed on Mar. 25, 2010, theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a seat slide apparatus for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

A known seat slide apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed inJP2008-247143A (which will be hereinafter referred to as Reference 1),for example. The seat slide apparatus disclosed in Reference 1 includesa lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor and an upper rail fixed to avehicle seat and supported by the lower rail so as to be movablerelative to the lower rail. The seat slide apparatus also includes alock member that restricts a relative movement between the lower railand the upper rail. The restriction of the relative movement between thelower rail and the upper rail by the lock member (i.e., a locked stateof the lock member) is released, for example, by an operation of anoperation handle by an occupant seated on the aforementioned vehicleseat.

In addition, the seat slide apparatus according to Reference 1 includesa memory piece slidably attached to the lower rail therealong in alongitudinal direction in an inner void formed by the lower rail and theupper rail so as to have a box shape. The memory piece engages with thelower rail, thereby being prevented from moving along the lower rail inthe longitudinal direction. The seat slide apparatus further includes aholding member (receiving portion, memory plate) holding the memorypiece. The holding member holds the memory piece so that the memorypiece may move along with the upper rail, for example, at the time of ausual slide operation of a seat (seat cushion), that is, when theoccupant seated on the vehicle seat operates the operation handle torelease the restricted movement of the upper rail relative to the lowerrail by the lock member to adjust a position of the vehicle seat.Alternatively, the holding member holds the memory piece so that theengagement between the memory piece and the lower rail may be maintainedunder a condition where the restricted movement of the upper railrelative to the lower rail is released by a forward tilting movement ofa seat back. Accordingly, for example, at the time of a walk-inoperation of the seat slide apparatus, that is, when the occupant getsin the vehicle to sit on a rear seat or leaves the seat to get out ofthe vehicle, the upper rail (seat) is allowed to slide in thelongitudinal direction while the engagement between the memory piece andthe lower rail is maintained by the holding member. After the occupantsits on the rear seat, the upper rail (seat) is moved to an initialposition (memory position) in which the engagement between the memorypiece and the lower rail may be released. Then, the seat back tiltedforward is returned to a normal position (substantially uprightposition); thereafter, the upper rail is locked by the lock member atthe initial position so as not to move relative to the lower rail.

In particular, any means to fix the holding member, which holds thememory piece so that the engagement between the memory piece and thelower rail may be maintained, to the upper rail is not described inReference 1. It is required for the memory plate to be fixed to theupper rail before the lower rail and the upper rail are attached to eachother. In the case of tightening the holding member to the upper rail, afastening tool is inserted, for example, in a vertical direction that isdifferent from a direction where the holding member extends (theextending direction of the holding member corresponds to the movingdirection of the upper rail relative to the lower rail). Accordingly,assemblability of the holding member relative to the upper rail maydecrease.

A need thus exists for a seat slide apparatus for a vehicle, which isnot susceptible to the drawback mentioned above.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of this disclosure, a seat slide apparatus for avehicle includes a first rail, a second rail slidably movable relativeto the first rail, a lock member restricting a movement of the secondrail relative to the first rail, a memory member movably supportedwithin an inner void that is formed between the first rail and thesecond rail in a longitudinal direction of the first rail, the memorymember being prevented from moving by an engagement with the first rail,a first holding member fixed to the second rail and holding the memorymember so that the memory member is movable along with the second railin a condition where the restricted movement of the second rail relativeto the first rail by the lock member is released in accordance with anoperation of an operation handle, a second holding member holding thememory member so as to maintain the engagement between the memory memberand the first rail in a condition where the restricted movement of thesecond rail relative to the first rail by the lock member is released inaccordance with a forward tilting movement of a seat back of a seatconfigured to be fixed to the second rail, a support bracket fixed tothe second rail in the inner void and supporting one end portion of thesecond holding member inserted toward one side in the moving directionof the second rail relative to the first rail; and a rail-sideengagement portion arranged at the second rail, the rail-side engagementportion being engaged with a holding-member-side engagement portion,which is formed at the other end portion of the second holding member,and preventing the second holding member from being loosened from thesecond rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and characteristics of thisdisclosure will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription considered with the reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a seat slide apparatus for avehicle according to a first embodiment disclosed here;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the seat slide apparatusaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line III-III illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line IV-IV illustrated inFIG. 2;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are longitudinal sectional views each illustrating anoperation of the seat slide apparatus in a state where a memory piece isarranged at a foremost portion of a lower rail according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the operation ofthe seat slide apparatus in a state where the upper rail is arranged ata rearmost position according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the operation ofthe seat slide apparatus in a state where the upper rail is arranged ata foremost position according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross sectional views each illustrating theoperation of the seat slide apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the lower rail and a foremoststopper bracket according to the first embodiment;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are perspective views each illustrating a slider bodyaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a front stopper bracket according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a memory holding bracket according tothe first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a side view of a seat for the vehicle according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating the seat slide apparatus accordingto a second embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the seat slide apparatusaccording to the second embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIG.14;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view taken along the line XVII-XVII of FIG.14; and

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII ofFIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First and second embodiments will be explained with reference to theattached drawings. FIG. 13 is a side view schematically illustrating aseat for a vehicle (vehicle seat) 1 provided at a front seat side of avehicle such as an automobile. In the first and second embodiments,directions and orientations such as left, right, front, rear, top, andbottom correspond to those when viewed from a seat occupant seated onthe vehicle seat 1. As illustrated in FIG. 13, a lower rail 3 serving asa first rail and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle isfixed to a vehicle floor 2 via front and rear leg brackets 9. An upperrail 4 serving as a second rail is attached to the lower rail 3 so as tobe movable relative thereto.

In the first embodiment, one pair of the lower rail 3 and the upper rail4 is provided at one side (i.e., a left side) of the vehicle seat 1 inthe width direction while another pair of the lower rail 3 and the upperrail 4 is provided at the other side (i.e., a right side) of the vehicleseat 1. In FIG. 13, the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 arranged atthe left side of the vehicle seat 1 are illustrated. A seat 5 is fixedand supported by the upper rails 4. The seat 5 includes a seat cushion 7serving as a seating portion and a seat back 8 tiltably supported abouta rotational axis O at a rear end of the seat cushion 7. A relativemovement between the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 is basicallyrestricted. A release handle 6 serving as an operation handle isprovided to release the restricted state of the relative movementbetween the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4.

A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodimentwill be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIGS. 3 and 4, somecomponents of the seat slide apparatus are omitted for convenience. Asmentioned above, one pair of the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 isprovided at one side of the vehicle seat 1 in the width direction whileanother pair of the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 is provided at theother side of the vehicle seat 1. Therefore, a structure including thelower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 provided at one side of the vehicleseat 1 in the width direction is substantially the same as a structureincluding the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 provided at the otherside of the vehicle seat 1. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure includingthe lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 provided at the right side of thevehicle seat 1 in the width direction is illustrated and an explanationthereof will be described below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the lower rail 3 includes a pair of side wallportions 11 and a bottom wall portion 12. Each of the side wall portions11 extends in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle fromrespective ends of the bottom wall portion 12 in the width direction.The side wall portions 11 are connected to each other by the bottom wallportion 12. As illustrated in FIG. 3, folding wall portions 13 arecontinuously formed at respective upper ends of the side wall portions11 so as to bend inwardly in the width direction and then folddownwardly.

The upper rail 4 includes a pair of side wall portions 14 and a coverwall portion 15. Each of the side wall portions 14 extends in thesubstantially vertical direction of the vehicle between the folding wallportions 13 of the lower rail 3. The cover wall portion 15 connects theside wall portions 14. As illustrated in FIG. 3, folding wall portions16 are continuously formed at respective lower ends of the side wallportions 14 so as to bend outwardly in the width direction and then foldupwardly. Each of the folding wall portions 16 is arranged so as to besurrounded by the side wall portion 11 and the folding wall portion 13.

Accordingly, the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 are each formedsubstantially into a U-shape in a cross section (i.e., a rail crosssection of each of the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 is formed intoa U-shape) so that openings of the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4face each other. The lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 are preventedfrom disengaging from each other in the vertical direction by anengagement between the folding wall portions 13 and 16. The rail crosssection of each of the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 has a box shape(rectangular shape). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower rail 3constitutes an inner void S together with the upper rail 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper rail 4 is slidably supportedrelative to the lower rail 3 in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle by means of two pairs of rolling members 17. Specifically, twoof the rolling members 17 are provided at a front end portion of theupper rail 4 while being disposed between the folding wall portions 16and the facing side wall portions 11 respectively. In addition, two ofthe rolling members 17 are provided at a rear end portion of the upperrail 4 while being disposed between the folding wall portions 16 and thefacing side wall portions 11 respectively.

Multiple circular engagement bores 12 a are formed at respectiveintervals at the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 in thelongitudinal direction. In addition, multiple square lock bores 13 a areformed at the respective intervals at one of the folding wall portions13 of the lower rail 3 (i.e., the folding wall portion 13 illustrated onthe left side in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction.

Multiple insertion bores 14 a, specifically, four insertion bores 14 aare formed at the respective intervals at one of the side wall portions14 of the upper rail 4 (i.e., the side wall portion 14 illustrated onthe left side in FIG. 1). The four insertion bores 14 a are arranged insuch a manner so as to face four of the multiple lock bores 13 aarranged next to each other in the longitudinal direction and formed atthe folding wall portion 13.

Further, multiple insertion bores 16 a, specifically, four insertionbores 16 a are formed at the respective intervals at one of the foldingwall portions 16 of the upper rail 4 (which is illustrated on the leftside in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction. The four insertion bores16 a are arranged in such a manner to face the four insertion bores 14a. A rectangular through hole 15 a and a rectangular through bore 15 bare formed at a shoulder portion defined between the cover wall portion15 and one of the side wall portions 14 (which is illustrated on theleft side in FIG. 1) of the upper rail 4. The through hole 15 a isprovided at substantially the same position as the insertion bores 14 a,and the like, in the longitudinal direction. The through bore 15 b isprovided at a front side of the through hole 15 a in the longitudinaldirection.

A pair of support brackets 21 and 22 formed by a plate member,specifically, the front support bracket 21 and the rear support bracket22, is tightened to an upper surface of the cover wall portion 15 of theupper rail 4 so as to face the through hole 15 a. The front and rearsupport brackets 21 and 22 are tightened to the cover wall portion 15 bymultiple rivets 23. Bearing pieces 21 a and 22 a are formed in aprojecting manner at the front and rear support brackets 21 and 22respectively so as to be positioned at front and rear ends of thethrough hole 15 a. The bearing pieces 21 a and 22 a face each other inthe longitudinal direction of the upper rail 4.

A lock lever 26 formed by a plate member and serving as a lock member isrotatably supported by the front and rear support brackets 21 and 22 viaa lock lever pin that is inserted into the bearing pieces 21 a and 22 a.The lock lever 26 includes a body portion 26 a having an elongated shapeand a pair of support pieces 26 b. The body portion 26 a has a lengthshorter than a distance between the bearing pieces 21 a and 22 a. Thesupport pieces 26 b bend from respective ends of the body portion 26 a.The lock lever 26 is rotatably supported by the front and rear supportbrackets 21 and 22 in a state where the lock lever pin penetratesthrough the bearing pieces 21 a and 22 a, and the support pieces 26 b.

Multiple lock projections 26 c, specifically, four lock projections 26 care formed at the respective intervals at the lock lever 26. The lockprojections 26 c extend downwardly from the body portion 26 a and bendoutwardly. The lock projections 26 c are introduced to the rail crosssection of the upper rail 4 through the through hole 15 a. Each of thelock projections 26 c is arranged so as to engage or disengage relativeto the facing insertion bores 14 a and 16 a when rotating about the locklever pin.

In a case where the lock projections 26 c of the lock lever 26 areinserted into the lock bores 13 a through the insertion bores 14 a and16 a, the relative movement between the lower rail 3 and the upper rail4 is restricted. Accordingly, the movement of the upper rail 4 relativeto the lower rail 3 is restricted at the predetermined intervals withina range from a rearmost position, where one of the lock projections 26 cof the lock lever 26 is inserted into the lock bore 13 a arranged at arearmost side, to a foremost position, where one of the lock projections26 c is inserted into the lock bore 13 a arranged at a foremost side. Asa result, the position of the seat 5 supported by the upper rails 4 isdetermined. On the other hand, the relative movement between the lowerrail 3 and the upper rail 4 is allowed when the lock projections 26 c ofthe lock lever 26 sequentially disengage from the insertion bores 16 aand the lock bores 13 a.

The lock lever 26 includes a contact piece 26 d that extends upwardlyfrom the body portion 26 a. A bar-shaped lock spring 27, of which oneend engages with the upper rail 4, engages with the contact piece 26 dat the other end. The lock lever 26 is constantly rotatably biased bythe lock spring 27 in a direction where the lock projections 26 c areinserted into the insertion bores 14 a, and the like. In a case where anoperation force from the release handle 6 is transmitted to the locklever 26 via a connection bar 28 that is connected to the release handle6, the lock lever 26 rotates in a direction where the lock projections26 c are retracted against the biasing force of the lock spring 27,i.e., in a direction where the lock projections 26 c disengage from theinsertion bores 16 a, and the like. As a result, the relative movementbetween the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 is permitted. For example,at a time of a normal slide operation for an adjustment of the seatposition, the operation force is applied to the release handle 6 tothereby permit the relative movement between the lower rail 3 and theupper rail 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a memory piece 30 serving as a memorymember is attached to the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3.The memory piece 30 includes a slider body 31, a coil spring 32, and amemory pin 33.

The slider body 31 is formed substantially into a block shape having awidth smaller than a distance between the side wall portions 14 of theupper rail 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a pair of guideportions 31 a is formed at a lower surface of the slider body 31 along alongitudinal direction so as to project downwardly. Specifically, theguide portions 31 a are formed at both edges in a width direction on thelower surface of the slider body 31 while projecting in a rib shape. Theslider body 31 is slidably supported by the bottom wall portion 12 ofthe lower rail 3 via the guide portions 31 a so as not to interfere withthe side wall portions 14 of the upper rail 4 within the inner void S.In addition, a projecting portion 31 b is formed at a front end of theslider body 31 to project forward. Further, a rear contact portion 31 cis formed at a rear end of the slider body 31 to project rearward in aninclined manner. The rear contact portion 31 c inclines downward andrearward.

A front contact portion 31 d is formed by a stepped surface between thelower surface and the projecting portion 31 b of the slider body 31. Apair of contact portions 31 e is formed between the projecting portion31 b and the rear contact portion 31 c. Specifically, the contactportions 31 e extend in opposite directions from each other, i.e., inboth outer directions in the width direction from respective upper endportions of the slider body 31. Further, the slider body 31 includes aguide hole 31 f having substantially a square shape and opening upwardlyas illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 10B, and an insertion bore 31 gpenetrating through a bottom wall of the guide hole 31 f and having aninner diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of theengagement bore 12 a formed at the bottom wall portion 12 of the lowerrail 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the coil spring 32 is accommodated within theguide hole 31 f of the slider body 31. The memory pin 33 is mounted atthe guide hole 31 f while being inserted into the coil spring 32. Thememory pin 33 includes a head portion 33 a formed substantially into asquare pole so as to mach an outer shape of the guide hole 31 f andplaced on the coil spring 32. The memory pin 33 also includes anengagement portion 33 b having substantially a column shape and insertedinto the coil spring 32 by projecting downwardly from the head portion33 a. An outer diameter of the engagement portion 33 b is specified tobe substantially equal to an inner diameter of the insertion bore 31 g(and the engagement bore 12 a).

The memory pin 33 is inserted into the coil spring 32 in a state wherethe engagement portion 33 b is coaxially arranged with the insertionbore 31 g. The memory pin 33 is biased upward by the coil spring 32 sothat the head portion 33 a projects upward from the slider body 31. Atthis time, the engagement portion 33 b is configured so that an end(lower end) of the engagement portion 33 b is prevented from penetratingthrough the insertion bore 31 g. The memory piece 30 is movable in thelongitudinal direction of the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail3.

In a case where the memory pin 33 moves downward against the biasingforce of the coil spring 32 in a state where the engagement bore 12 aopens at a lower side of the engagement portion 33 b, the lower end ofthe engagement portion 33 b penetrates through the insertion bore 31 gand the engagement bore 12 a. At this time, the memory piece 30 is fixedto the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 so as not to bemovable in the longitudinal direction.

A front stopper pin 36, of which a center line extends in the verticaldirection, is fixed to the front leg bracket 9. The front stopper pin 36is arranged in a projecting manner so as not to block or interfere witha movement of the upper rail 4 in the longitudinal direction and so asto block or interfere with a movement of the slider body 31 of thememory piece 30 by contacting with the front contact portion 31 dthereof. As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the forward movement of the memorypiece 30 is stopped by the front contact portion 31 d making contactwith the front stopper pin 36. At this time, the memory piece 30 ispositioned in such a manner that the engagement bore 12 a of the lowerrail 3 is arranged to open at the lower side of the engagement portion33 b. The front leg bracket 9, which is fixed to a front end portion ofthe lower surface of the lower rail 3 includes multiple circularinsertion bores 9 a that open towards the facing engagement bores 12 arespectively. Accordingly, in a case where the memory pin 33 movesdownward against the biasing force of the coil spring 32, the lower endof the engagement portion 33 b penetrates through the insertion bore 31g, the engagement bore 12 a and the insertion bore 9 a as illustrated inFIG. 5B, thereby prohibiting the memory piece 30 to move in thelongitudinal direction of the lower rail 3.

A foremost stopper bracket 41 formed by a metallic plate is tightened toa rear portion of the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 by arearmost stopper pin 40 (see FIG. 6). As illustrated in FIG. 9, a rearend engagement bore 37 that is one of the multiple engagement bores 12 aformed at the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 is arranged ata rearmost side among the engagement bores 12 a. The rear end engagementbore 37 is an elongated bore that extends rearward from a point awayfrom the adjacent engagement bore 12 a, i.e., one of the engagementbores 12 a arranged next to the rear end engagement bore 37, by thepredetermined interval. A pin insertion bore 38 having substantially anoval shape is formed at a rear side of the rear end engagement bore 37.In addition, two stopper insertion bores 39 each having a slit shape areformed at a front side of the rear end engagement bore 37. The twostopper insertion bores 39 are arranged at respective sides of theengagement bores 12 a in the width direction while extending in thelongitudinal direction of the lower rail 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the foremost stopper bracket 41 includes anattachment portion 42 having an elongated shape and extending in thelongitudinal direction of the lower rail 3. The attachment portion 42 isin contact with a lower surface (i.e., an outer surface) of the bottomwall portion 12. The attachment portion 42 includes a circular-shapedinsertion bore 42 a that opens towards the pin insertion bore 38. Asillustrated in FIG. 6, the attachment portion 42 of the foremost stopperbracket 41 is tightened to the bottom wall portion 12 by a riveting ofthe rearmost stopper pin 40 that is inserted into the pin insertion bore38 and the insertion bore 42 a at the rear side of the memory piece 30.Multiple circular-shaped insertion bores 42 b are formed at thepredetermined intervals at the attachment portion 42 so as to face andopen towards the engagement bores 12 a including the rear end engagementbore 37. Accordingly, a portion of the rear end engagement bore 37 aelongated rearwards from the point away from the adjacent engagementbore 12 a by the predetermined interval is covered by the attachmentportion 42 so that the rear end engagement bore 37 opens to formsubstantially into a circular shape that matches an outer shape of theinsertion bore 42 b.

The foremost stopper bracket 41 includes two flanges 43 serving asstopper portions at the front side of the attachment portion 42.Specifically, the flanges 43 extend upwardly from respective ends of theattachment portion 42 in the width direction so as to penetrate throughthe respective stopper insertion bores 39. Each of the flanges 43includes an insertion piece 43 a and a flange portion 43 b. Theinsertion piece 43 a is inserted into the stopper insertion bore 39while having a length shorter than a length of the stopper insertionbore 39 in the longitudinal direction. The flange portion 43 b is formedto be connected to an end of the insertion piece 43 a that is insertedinto the inner void S so as to extend in the vertical direction. Theflange portion 43 b has a length slightly shorter than the length of thestopper insertion bore 39 and longer than a length of the insertionpiece 43 a in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the flangeportion 43 b has substantially a fin shape so that a lower side of afront end protrudes relative to an upper side of the front end. Theflange portion 43 b includes a hook portion 43 c protruding forwardrelative to the insertion piece 43 a at the upper side of the bottomwall portion 12. Thus, a lower end of the hook portion 43 c is incontact with an upper surface (i.e., an inner surface) of the bottomwall portion 12 of the lower rail 3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the rearmost stopper pin 40 is arrangedin a projecting manner so as not to block or interfere with the movementof the upper rail 4 in the longitudinal direction and so as to block orinterfere with the movement of the slider body 31 of the memory piece 30by contacting with the rear contact portion 31 c thereof. In addition,each of the flanges 43 of the foremost stopper bracket 41 is arranged ina projecting manner so as not to block the movement of the slider body31. That is, a space formed below each of the contact portions 31 e ofthe slider body 31 constitutes a passage P by which an interferencebetween the slider body 31 and the flange 43 is avoidable. In a casewhere the memory piece 30 moves rearward in the longitudinal directionof the lower rail 3, the rear contact portion 31 c that passes throughthe flanges 43 makes contact with the rearmost stopper pin 40, therebystopping the movement of the memory piece 30. At this time, the rear endengagement bore 37 is arranged so as to open in the substantiallycircular shape while being covered by the attachment portion 42 belowthe engagement portion 33 b of the memory piece 30 (see FIG. 6).Therefore, when the memory pin 33 moves downward against the biasingforce of the coil spring 32, the lower end of the engagement portion 33b penetrates through the insertion bore 31 g, the rear end engagementbore 37, and the insertion bore 42 b. As a result, the memory piece 30is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a pair of cut and lift pieces 46serving as a pair of cut and lift portions is formed at a rear endportion of the upper rail 4 and at a rear side of the flanges 43. Thepair of cut and lift pieces 46 is arranged in a symmetrical manner inthe width direction. Specifically, each of the cut and lift pieces 46 isformed at the lower end of the side wall portion 14 connected to thefolding wall portion 16. The cut and lift pieces 46 are each cut andbent upward at a predetermined angle so that a distance between upperends of the cut and lift pieces 46 is shorter than a distance betweenlower ends thereof to form into straight inclined shapes. The cut andlift pieces 46 protrude within the inner void S. In addition, the cutand lift pieces 46 extend in a direction where the lower rail 3 and theupper rail 4 move relative to each other. Because of the cut and liftpieces 46, cutout portions 47 serving as rail-side engagement portionsand fitting bores are defined at the respective lower ends of the sidewall portions 14 so as to open in the width direction. The cutoutportions 47 are externally covered in the width direction by at leastthe respective folding wall portions 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rearmost stopper pin 40 is arrangedbetween the cut and lift pieces 46 in the width direction. The cut andlift pieces 46 are formed in a projecting manner so that the movement ofthe cut and lift pieces 46 in the longitudinal direction is not blockedby the rearmost stopper pin 40 and the memory piece 30, and is blockedby the flange portions 43 b of the flanges 43. Thus, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the flanges 43 and the cut and lift pieces 46 restrict arelative movement range between the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 bycontacting and engaging in association with the relative movementbetween the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4. That is, the forwardmovement of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3 is restrictedto a point where the flanges 43 make contact with the cut and liftpieces 46.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a front stopper bracket 50 serving as aholding bracket and a first holding member is fixed to a front edgeportion of the upper rail 4. Specifically, the front stopper bracket 50is provided at a front side of the memory piece 30. As illustrated inFIG. 11, the front stopper bracket 50 includes a fitting wall portion 51in contact with a lower surface (i.e., an inner surface) of the coverwall portion 15, and a pair of engagement wall portions 52 that extenddownwardly from respective ends of the fitting wall portion 51 in thewidth direction, thereby forming into a substantially U-shape openingdownwardly. The front stopper bracket 50 is fixed to the upper rail 4 ina state where the fitting wall portion 51 is tightened to the cover wallportion 15 by a riveting pin, or the like.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the engagement wall portions 52 of thefront stopper bracket 50 are arranged in a projecting manner so that theforward movement of the engagement wall portions 52 are not interferedby the front stopper pin 36 and the flange portions 43 b of the flanges43 and so that the rearward movement of the engagement wall portions 52are interfered by the contact portions 31 e of the memory piece 30. Asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, a stepped surface formed at each of theengagement wall portions 52 may make contact with the contact portion 31e of the memory piece 30 to thereby constitute a front holding portion52 a. Accordingly, the rearward movement of the upper rail 4 relative tothe lower rail 3 is restricted to a point where the front holdingportions 52 a of the engagement wall portions 52 make contact with thecontact portions 31 e of the memory piece 30 fixed to the lower rail 3.Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the rearward movement of theupper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3 is restricted to a point wherethe front holding portions 52 a of the engagement wall portions 52 makecontact with the contact portions 31 e of the memory piece 30 of whichthe rear contact portion 31 c makes contact with the rearmost stopperpin 40. A rear end portion of each of the engagement wall portions 52forms a projecting wall portion 52 b that inclines downwardly asillustrated in FIG. 11.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, the front stopper bracket 50 alsoincludes a rear holding portion 53 having a hook shape and projectingrearward from a rear end of the fitting wall portion 51. Morespecifically, the rear holding portion 53 projects at a portion of therear end of the fitting wall portion 51 between the engagement wallportions 52 in the width direction. The front stopper bracket 50integrally includes the fitting wall portion 51, the engagement wallportions 52, and the rear holding portion 53. The rear holding portion53, which inclines downwardly, forms an inclination surface 53 a by alower surface and an engagement portion 53 b by an upper surface that isan opposite surface of the lower surface as illustrated in FIG. 8A. Theengagement portion 53 b inclines in the same manner as the inclinationsurface 53 a. The rear holding portion 53 is arranged at the rear endbetween the engagement wall portions 52 at the portion close to one sidein the width direction (i.e., a left side in FIG. 3). The rear holdingportion 53 is arranged in a projecting manner so that the longitudinalmovement of the rear holding portion 53 is prevented from beinginterfered by the slider body 31 and the flange portions 43 b of theflanges 43 and so that the longitudinal movement of the rear holdingportion 53 is interfered by a portion of the head portion 33 a, which ispositioned at one side in the width direction, of the memory pin 33 thatprojects upwardly from the slider body 31. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, ina state where the front holding portions 52 a are in contact with thecontact portions 31 e, the inclination surface 53 a of the rear holdingportion 53 makes contact with a rear end surface of the head portion 33a of the memory pin 33 that projects upwardly from the slider body 31,thereby holding and supporting the memory piece 30.

Accordingly, in a case where the upper rail 4 moves forward relative tothe lower rail 3, the memory piece 30 also moves forward together withthe upper rail 4 because the memory pin 33, which projects upward fromthe slider body 31, is pressed by the rear holding portion 53 of thefront stopper bracket 50. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, in acase where the memory pin 33 is retracted within the slider body 31 soas to engage with the lower rail 3, the memory pin 33 does not block themovement of the rear holding portion 53 of the front stopper bracket 50to thereby allow the forward movement of the upper rail 4 while thememory pin 33 remains at a position to be fixed to the lower rail 3.That is, in a case where the upper rail 4 moves forward relative to thelower rail 3, the front stopper bracket 50 is disengageable from thememory piece 30 as long as the memory pin 33 is retracted and positionedwithin the slider body 31. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a clearance C isdefined between the rear holding portion 53, which is arranged at theportion close to the one side in the width direction, and the adjacentprojecting wall portion 52 b arranged at the other side in the widthdirection (i.e., a right side in FIG. 3). The clearance C is arranged inthe longitudinal direction so as to match a position of the through bore15 b of the upper rail 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a memory holding bracket 60 serving as secondholding member and made of a resin material or an elastic material, forexample, is fixed within the upper rail 4 while being adjacent to thefront stopper bracket 50 at a rear side thereof. The memory holdingbracket 60 includes a body holding portion 61 having an elongated shapeextending in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail 4. A lowersurface of the body holding portion 61 forms a pressing surface 61 athat extends evenly.

The memory holding bracket 60 includes multiple guide portions 62, 63,64, 65, and 66 having intervals from one another in the longitudinaldirection and extending upward from an upper end of the body holdingportion 61. The guide portions 62 to 65 each project upward in a tableshape or a flange shape. The guide portion 66 having a block shapeprojects upward at a rear side of the guide portion 65. The memoryholding bracket 60 is formed in such a manner that the pressing surface61 a extends in parallel to the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail3 in a state where upper surfaces of the guide portions 62 to 66 are incontact with the lower surface of the cover wall portion 15 of the upperrail 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a front edge portion (one endportion) of the body holding portion 61 of the memory holding bracket 60forms a sharp support portion 61 b. A lower surface of the supportportion 61 b is cut so as to conform to a sharp corner portion definedbetween the lower surface of the cover wall portion 15 of the upper rail4 and the engagement portion 53 b of the front stopper bracket 50.Accordingly, the memory holding bracket 60 is inserted into the upperrail 4 from the rear side thereof to the forward direction while theupper surfaces of the guide portions 62 to 66 are slidably in contactwith the lower surface of the cover wall portion 15 of the upper rail 4.As a result, the support portion 61 b is inserted into theaforementioned corner portion to thereby support the front edge portionof the memory holding bracket 60. At this time, the pressing surface 61a is defined in such a manner to be connected in a coplanar manner to arear end of the inclination surface 53 a. As illustrated in FIG. 2, arear end of the pressing surface 61 a of the body holding portion 61 ispositioned to substantially match a rear end of the upper rail 4.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the guide portion 65substantially arranged at an intermediate portion of the body holdingportion 61 in the longitudinal direction includes a projection 65 asupported in a cantilever manner and projecting forward while an uppersurface of the projection 65 a is formed in a coplanar manner. The guideportion 65 also includes a fitting portion 65 b having a disc shape andprojecting upward from an end portion of the projection 65 a. Thefitting portion 65 b engages with a circular-shaped fitting bore 15 cformed at the cover wall portion 15 of the upper rail 4 in a case wherethe front edge portion of the memory holding bracket 60 is supported inthe aforementioned manner. Thus, at a time when the memory holdingbracket 60 is being inserted into the upper rail 4 in the aforementionedmanner, the fitting portion 65 b makes contact with the lower surface ofthe cover wall portion 15 to thereby elastically deform the projection65 a. As a result, the projection 65 a moves in the longitudinaldirection of the upper rail 4 while a front end of the projection 65 ais separated from the cover wall portion 15. Then, when the fittingportion 65 b reaches the fitting bore 15 c so as to engage therewith,the projection 65 a is elastically returned to make contact with thelower surface of the cover wall portion 15. The memory holding bracket60 is prevented from being dislocated relative to the upper rail 4 inthe longitudinal direction accordingly.

The guide portion 66 arranged at a rearmost portion of the body holdingportion 61 is formed so as to conform to a shape of inner wall surfacesof the side wall portions 14 and the cover wall portion 15 of the upperrail 4, thereby being fitted to the upper rail 4. Thus, the position ofthe memory holding bracket 60 relative to the upper rail 4 is determinedin the width direction.

Further, the memory holding bracket 60 includes a pair of fittingprojections 67 (serving as holding-member-side engagement portions) at arear edge portion (the other end portion) where the guide portion 66 isarranged. The fitting projections 67 project towards respective outersides in the width direction. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the fittingprojections 67 extend downwardly from respective ends of a lower surfaceof the memory holding bracket 60 in the width direction and then bendinwardly in the width direction so as to form substantially into anL-shape. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a distance between the fittingprojections 67 in the width direction is specified to be slightly largerthan a distance between the side wall portions 14 in the width directionand is specified to be smaller than a distance between the folding wallportions 13 of the lower rail 3 in the width direction. The fittingprojections 67 are fitted to the cutout portions 47 of the upper rail 4in a case where the front edge portion of the memory holding bracket 60,i.e., the support portion 61 b, is supported in the aforementionedmanner. Accordingly, at the time when the memory holding bracket 60 isbeing inserted into the upper rail 4 in the aforementioned manner, thefitting projections 67 move in the longitudinal direction of the upperrail 4 while being pressed by respective inner side surfaces of the sidewall portions 14 so as to be elastically deformed at respective upperends towards the inner side in the width direction. Then, when thefitting projections 67 reach the respective cutout portions 47 andelastically return to be inserted thereto, the fitting projections 67fitted to the respective cutout portions 47 are prevented from movingrelative to the upper rail 4 in the longitudinal direction. The fittingprojections 67 fitted to the cutout portions 47 are arranged atrespective lower end portions of the upper rail 4 covered by the foldingwall portions 16, thereby preventing an outward exposure of the fittingprojections 67.

Lower ends of the fitting projections 67 that inwardly extend in thewidth direction form placing portions 67 a that are placed on the cutand lift pieces 46. Therefore, the memory holding bracket 60 ispositioned relative to the upper rail 4 in the vertical direction whilethe upper surfaces of the guide portions 62 to 66 are in contact withthe lower surface of the cover wall portion 15 and the placing portions67 a are placed on the cut and lift pieces 46. In addition, each of thefitting projections 67 includes a cover portion 67 b havingsubstantially an L-shape, extending downward from a rear end of theplacing portion 67 a so as to cover a rear end surface of the cut andlift piece 46 and then extending forward so as to cover a lower surfaceof the cut and lift piece 46. Accordingly, the cut and lift pieces 46are prevented from being exposed outside by being covered from a rearside by the cover portions 67 b in addition to the placing portions 67a.

In FIG. 8A, the memory piece 30 makes contact at the contact portions 31e with the front holding portions 52 a and at the rear end surface ofthe memory pin 33, which projects upward from the slider body 31, withthe inclination surface 53 a, i.e., the memory piece 30 is held by thefront stopper bracket 50. At this time, during the normal slideoperation in which the relative movement between the lower rail 3 andthe upper rail 4 is allowed by an operation force applied to the releasehandle 6, the memory piece 30 moves in the longitudinal direction of thelower rail 3 (the bottom wall portion 12) in association with themovement of the upper rail 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, in a case where the front contact portion 31d of the memory piece 30 engages with the front stopper pin 36 so thatthe further forward movement of the memory piece 30 is restricted, therear end surface of the memory pin 33 is pressed by the inclinationsurface 53 a in association with the further forward movement of theupper rail 4. Then, the memory pin 33 moves downward against the biasingforce of the coil spring 32 in a state to be guided by the inclinationsurface 53 a. The lower end of the engagement portion 33 b penetratesthrough the insertion bore 31 g, the engagement bore 12 a, and theinsertion bore 9 a. Accordingly, the memory piece 30 is fixed to thebottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 so as to be unmovable.

Next, when the upper rail 4 moves further forward, the inclinationsurface 53 a guides the memory pin 33 to the pressing surface 61 a ofthe memory holding bracket 60 that is continuously arranged in the rearof the inclination surface 53 a. At this time, the head portion 33 a ofthe memory pin 33 is pressed by the pressing surface 61 a so that thestate where the lower end of the engagement portion 33 b is positionedwithin the insertion bore 31 g, the engagement bore 12 a and theinsertion bore 9 a is maintained. Thus, the memory piece 30 ismaintained in a state to be fixed to the lower rail 3. That is, thefurther forward movement of the upper rail 4 is available while thememory piece 30 is fixed to the lower rail 3. The movement of the upperrail 4 to the foremost position as illustrated in FIGS. 5B and 7 isensured. The relative movement of the upper rail 4 to the lower rail 3is restricted at the predetermined intervals to the foremost position bythe lock lever 26. The position of the seat 5 supported by the upperrail 4 in the longitudinal direction is adjustable relative to thevehicle floor 2 accordingly.

Afterwards, when the upper rail 4 moves rearward, the front holdingportions 52 a of the front stopper bracket 50 make contact with therespective contact portions 31 e of the memory piece 30 that is fixed tothe lower rail 3, thereby once stopping the movement of the frontstopper bracket 50. At this time, the upper surface of the head portion33 a is released from the pressing surface 61 a of the memory holdingbracket 60 and the inclination surface 53 a sequentially. As a result,the memory pin 33 moves upward by receiving the biasing force of thecoil spring 32, thereby disengaging the lower end of the engagementportion 33 b from the insertion bore 9 a and the engagement bore 12 a.The memory piece 30 is held by the front stopper bracket 50 in a stateto be sandwiched between the front holding portions 52 a and theinclination surface 53 a.

In a case where the upper rail 4 is arranged in an arbitrary positionwithin a range from an intermediate position (i.e., a foremost positionof the memory piece 30) as illustrated in FIG. 5A to a rearmost positionas illustrated in FIG. 6 so that the movement of the upper rail 4relative to the lower rail 3 is adjustable and restricted by the locklever 26, the memory piece 30 held by the front stopper bracket 50 isarranged so that that the engagement bore 12 a opens below the memorypin 33. That is, the memory piece 30 can be fixed to the lower rail 3 inthe aforementioned manner at an arbitrary position, where the movementof the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3 is restricted by thelock lever 26, within a range until the forward movement of the upperrail 4 is restricted by the front stopper pin 36.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a support bracket 29 is tightened tothe upper surface of the cover wall portion 15 of the upper rail 4. Thesupport bracket 29 is formed by a plate member bending to form into anL-shape. The support bracket 29 extends in the longitudinal direction ofthe upper rail 4. A release lever 71 having substantially a V-shape andformed by a plate member is rotatably connected to a rear end portion ofthe support bracket 29. The release lever 71 includes a contact piece 71a at a front end bending in the width direction. The contact piece 26 dof the lock lever 26 is arranged on a rotation locus of the contactpiece 71 a. The release lever 71 is constantly biased by a biasing meansin a direction where the contact piece 71 a is away from the contactpiece 26 d (i.e., in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2). The release lever71 rotates about a rotational axis thereof in a counterclockwisedirection in FIG. 2 in association with a forward folding operation ofthe seat back 8, thereby pressing the contact piece 26 d of the locklever 26 by the contact piece 71 a. The restriction of the relativemovement between the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 by the lock lever26 is released accordingly.

A memory operation lever 72 having a claw shape and formed by a platemember is rotatably connected to substantially an intermediate portionof the support bracket 29 in the longitudinal direction. An end portionof a connection lever 73, of which another end portion is rotatablyconnected to the release lever 71, is rotatably connected to the memoryoperation lever 72. The connection lever 73 is formed by a plate memberwhile having a bar shape. The memory operation lever 72 rotates about arotational axis thereof in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 inassociation with the rotation of the release lever 71 that is operatedin response to the forward folding operation of the seat back 8.

The memory operation lever 72 includes a sharp pressing piece 72 a at afront end. The pressing piece 72 a is configured in such a manner thatthe through bore 15 b of the upper rail 4 and the clearance C of thefront stopper bracket 50 are arranged on a rotation locus of thepressing piece 72 a. In a normal state of the seat 5, i.e., in a statewhere the seat back 8 is not folded forward and the memory piece 30 isheld by the front stopper bracket 50, the head portion 33 a is preventedfrom being pressed by the pressing piece 72 a of the memory operationlever 72.

In the aforementioned state, when the memory operation lever 72 rotatesin the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 in association with theforward folding operation of the seat back 8, the head portion 33 a ispressed by the pressing piece 72 a so that the memory pin 33 movesdownward against the biasing force of the coil spring 32 as illustratedin FIG. 8B. Then, the memory piece 30 is fixed to the bottom wallportion 12 of the lower rail 3 and is unmovable relative thereto. Atthis time, when the contact piece 71 a of the release lever 71 pressesthe contact piece 26 d of the lock lever 26, the restriction of therelative movement between the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 by thelock lever 26 is released.

Afterwards, in a case where the upper rail 4 moves forward, theinclination surface 53 a of the rear holding portion 53 guides thememory pin 33 to the pressing surface 61 a of the memory holding bracket60 connected to the rear side of the inclination surface 53 a whilerestricting the upward movement of the memory pin 33, which has moveddownward by being pressed by the pressing piece 72 a. Accordingly, thememory piece 30 is maintained to be fixed to the lower rail 3, and theupper rail 4 moves further forward while the memory piece 30 remains tobe fixed to the lower rail 3.

As long as the upper rail 4 is arranged in an arbitrary position wherethe relative movement of the upper rail 4 to the lower rail 3 isrestricted by the lock lever 26 within the range from the intermediateposition illustrated in FIG. 5A to the rearmost position illustrated inFIG. 6, the memory piece 30 held by the front stopper bracket 50 isfixed to the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 in associationwith the forward folding operation of the seat back 8.

Then, in a case where the upper rail 4 moves rearward after the forwardmovement while the memory piece 30 remains to be fixed to the lower rail3, the front holding portions 52 a of the front stopper bracket 50 makecontact with the contact portions 31 e of the memory piece 30 that isfixed to the lower rail 3, thereby once stopping the movement of thefront stopper bracket 50. Accordingly, the upper rail 4 returns to aprevious position prior to the forward movement, i.e., returns to amemory position. Afterwards, when the seat back 8 is pulled back, thecontact piece 26 d of the lock lever 26 disengages from the contactpiece 71 a of the release lever 71 so that the relative movement betweenthe lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 is restricted at the memoryposition.

A so-called walk-in operation where the lock lever 26 is released andlocked in association with the forward folding operation of the seatback 8 will be explained below. In a case where the seat back 8 isfolded forward in a state where the relative movement of the upper rail4 to the lower rail 3 is locked or restricted at a predeterminedposition (i.e., the memory position) as illustrated in FIG. 2, therelease lever 71 and the memory operation lever 72 then rotate in thecounterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 8B. At this time, thecontact piece 71 a of the release lever 71 presses the contact piece 26d of the lock lever 26 to thereby release the restriction of therelative movement between the lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 by thelock lever 26. At the same time, the pressing piece 72 a of the memoryoperation lever 72 presses the head portion 33 a of the memory pin 33 ofthe memory piece 30 to thereby fix the memory piece 30 to the bottomwall portion 12 of the lower rail 3.

In the aforementioned state, when the upper rail 4 moves forward, theinclination surface 53 a of the rear holding portion 53 guides thememory pin 33 to the pressing surface 61 a of the memory holding bracket60 connected to the rear side of the inclination surface 53 a whilerestricting the upward movement of the memory pin 33 that moves downwardwhile being pressed by the pressing piece 72 a. Thus, the upper surfaceof the head portion 33 a is continuously pressed down by the pressingsurface 61 a so that the memory piece 30 is fixed to the bottom wallportion 12 of the lower rail 3. As mentioned above, the memory holdingbracket 60, specifically, the pressing surface 61 a extends to the rearend portion of the upper rail 4. Therefore, as illustrated by animaginary line in FIG. 7, the aforementioned state of the memory piece30 is maintained even when the upper rail 4 moves to the foremostposition thereof in a state where the memory piece 30 is fixed to therearmost portion of the lower rail 3. That is, even when the upper rail4 moves to the foremost position, at least the memory pin 33 is arrangedat a front side of the rear end of the upper rail 4. Consequently, thememory piece 30 is prevented from being exposed beyond the rear end ofthe upper rail 4. At this time, a space is ensured at a rear side of theseat 5 (the seat back 8) supported by the upper rail 4, therebyimproving accessibility of a passenger, and the like, to the rear seatof the seat 5, for example.

In a case where the flanges 43 of the foremost stopper bracket 41 engagewith the cut and lift pieces 46 in association with the forward movementof the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3, lower ends of the hookportions 43 c engage with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion12 of the lower rail 3, thereby avoiding the foremost stopper bracket 41to rotate relative to the lower rail 3. Thus, the foremost stopperbracket 41 is prevented from being deformed due to a load generated whenthe cut and lift pieces 46 engage with the flanges 43.

Afterwards, in a case where the upper rail 4 moves rearward while theseat back 8 is being folded forward, the front holding portions 52 a ofthe front stopper bracket 50 make contact with the contact portions 31 eof the memory piece 30 that is fixed to the lower rail 3, thereby oncestopping the movement of the upper rail 4. As a result, the upper rail 4returns to the memory position. Then, when the seat back 8 is pulled up,the contact piece 26 d of the lock lever 26 is released from the contactpiece 71 a of the release lever 71 so that the relative movement betweenthe lower rail 3 and the upper rail 4 is restricted at the memoryposition. When the seat back 8 is pulled up in a state where the upperrail 4 is in an arbitrary position between the foremost position to thememory position, the relative movement between the lower rail 3 and theupper rail 4 is also restricted.

As described above, following effects may be obtained from the seatslide apparatus according to the first embodiment. According to thefirst embodiment, the memory holding bracket 60 is inserted from therear side to the front side of the upper rail 4 (to one side in themoving direction of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3 in theinner void S; thereby, the front edge portion (one end portion) of thememory holding bracket 60 is supported by the front stopper bracket 50.In addition, the fitting projections 67 are engaged with the cutoutportions 47 to thereby prevent the memory holding bracket 60 from beingloosened from the upper rail 4. Accordingly, the memory holding bracket60 is assembled to the front side of the upper rail 4 (toward the oneside of the moving direction of the upper rail 4 relative to the lowerrail 3) and therefore is fixed to the upper rail 4. Consequently,assemblability of the memory holding bracket 60 relative to the upperrail 4 may be increased. In particular, the inner void S is opened in adirection into which the memory holding bracket 60 is inserted;therefore, the memory holding bracket 60 may be fixed to the upper rail4 even after the upper rail 4 is assembled to the lower rail 3. As aresult, the assemblability of the memory holding bracket 60 relative tothe upper rail 4 may be further increased. In addition, the memoryholding bracket 60 is fixed to the upper rail 4 without a tighteningmember such as a pin and the like, therefore reducing the number ofcomponents.

According to the first embodiment, the fitting projections 67 are simplyfitted into the cutout portions 47 to thereby prevent the memory holdingbracket 60 from being removed from the upper rail 4.

According to the first embodiment, the fitting projections 67 arearranged at the lower ends of the side wall portions 14 surrounded bythe folding wall portions 16, thereby being prevented from being exposedto the outer side of the upper rail 4. In addition, the fittingprojections 67 may be restricted from being detached from the cutoutportions 47, for example, by an external force acting on the upper rail4.

According to the first embodiment, each of the cutout portions 47 fittedwith the fitting projections 67 may be formed so as to conform to theshape of the cut and lift piece 46. Accordingly, manufacturing hours ofthe seat slide apparatus may be reduced compared to a case where fittingbores are additionally formed in the upper rail 4.

According to the first embodiment, the placing portions 67 a areattached on the cut and lift pieces 46; therefore, the orientation ofthe memory holding bracket 60 may be further stabilized. In addition,the cut and lift pieces 46 are covered by the cover portions 67 b tothereby prevent the occupant from accidentally touching the cut and liftpieces 46.

According to the first embodiment, the front stopper bracket 50 isutilized to support the front edge portion of the memory holding bracket60, therefore reducing the number of components of the seat slideapparatus. For example, even when the upper rail 4 is arranged to theforemost position in accordance with the walk-in operation, the memorypiece 30 inserted in or attached to the upper rail 4 may be preventedfrom being exposed beyond the rear end of the upper rail 4, thereforeimproving the appearance of the upper rail 4. Additionally, the memorypiece 30 is prevented from being exposed to the further rearward sidethan the rear end of the upper rail 4, therefore inhibiting the occupantfrom touching the memory piece 30.

According to the first embodiment, the front stopper pin 36 prevents thememory piece 30 from moving further forward than a predeterminedposition. Accordingly, the returned position (memory position) of theupper rail 4, in which the memory piece 30 is held by the front stopperbracket 50 so as to move along with the upper rail 4, may be preventedfrom being set at an excessively forward position. Consequently, asufficient space for the occupant seated on the seat to easily get onand off the vehicle may be appropriately secured.

According to the first embodiment, the memory holding bracket 60 is madeof the resin or the elastic member, therefore being easily manufacturedand increasing the assemblability relative to the upper rail 4.

The seat slide apparatus according to the second embodiment will bedescribed as follows with reference to FIGS. 14 to 18. In particular,the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that asupport structure of a rear end portion of a memory holding bracket 80(second holding member) is modified from that of the rear end portion ofthe memory holding bracket 60 of the first embodiment. Accordingly,detailed explanations of other configurations of the second embodiment,which are similar to those of the first embodiment will be hereinafteromitted.

FIG. 14 is a lateral view of a frame structure of the seat slideapparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a schematicview of the frame structure of the seat slide apparatus according to thesecond embodiment. In addition, FIGS. 16 to 18 are cross sectional viewstaken along the lines XVI-XVI, XVII-XVII, and XVIII-XVII, respectively,of FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14, the memory holding bracket 80 servingas the second holding member and made of the resin or elastic materialand the like is fixed to the inside of the upper rail 4. The memoryholding bracket 80 includes a body holding portion 81 having an elongateshape and extending in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail 4.As illustrated in FIG. 15, a connecting portion 81 a extending rearwardis formed at a rear end portion of the body holding portion 81. A widthof the connecting portion 81 a is reduced from a width of the bodyholding portion 81.

The memory holding bracket 80 further includes a plurality of guideportions 82 positioned at intervals from one another and further forwardthan the connecting portion 81 a in the longitudinal direction. Each ofthe guide portions 82 is raised upward from an upper end of the bodyholding portion 81 so as to have a cylindrical shape having a bottomface. Furthermore, the memory holding bracket 80 includes guide portions83 and 84. The guide portion 83 is raised upward from an upper end of afront end portion of the connecting portion 81 a so as to have acylindrical shape having a bottom face. The guide portion 84 is raisedfrom an upper end of a rear end portion of the connecting portion 81 aso as to have a width increased from the width of the body holdingportion 81. The guide portion 84 has a connecting wall portion 84 aextending in the width direction and a pair of extending side-wallsextending rearward from respective side ends of the connecting wallportion 84 a in the width direction. Accordingly, the guide portion 84includes an approximate U-shape having an opening facing the rear sideof the vehicle. The guide portions 82 and 84 are formed so as to conformto an outer shape of an inner wall surface of the upper rail 4 (the sidewall portions 14 and cover wall portion 15) and fitted to the upper rail4. Thus, the position of the memory holding bracket 80 relative to theupper rail 4 in the width direction is determined.

In addition, in the same way as the first embodiment, the front edgeportion (support portion 61 b) of the body holding portion 81 (memoryholding bracket 80) is inserted into the corner formed between the lowersurface of the cover wall portion 15 of the upper rail 4 and theengagement portion 53 b of the front stopper bracket 50, thereby beingsupported by the upper rail 4. The memory holding bracket 80 isconfigured so that lower surfaces (the pressure surface 61 a) of theguide portions 82, 83, and 84, respectively, are positioned in parallelto the bottom wall portion 12 of the lower rail 3 in a condition whereupper surfaces of the guide portions 82, 83, and 84, respectively, arein contact with the lower surface of the cover wall portion 15 of theupper rail 4.

Moreover, the memory holding portion 80 includes a pair of fittingprojections 85 (holding-member-side engagement portions) in the widthdirection. Each of the fitting projections 85 is formed in a trapezoidin a manner to protrude downward from a bottom end of the guide portion84, which is continuously formed with the connecting wall portion 84 a.In the same way as the first embodiment, a distance between the fittingprojections 85 in the width direction is designed to be slightly largerthan the distance between the side wall portions 14 of the upper rail 4in the width direction and to be slightly smaller than the distancebetween the folding wall portions 13 of the lower rail 3. When the frontedge portion (support portion 61 b) of the memory holding bracket 80 issupported by the upper rail 4 in a manner described above, the fittingprojections 85 are fitted in a pair of rectangular fitting bores 86formed in the respective side wall portions 14 at the rear end of theupper rail 4. Each of the fitting bores 86 serves as the rail-sideengagement portions. Accordingly, the memory holding bracket 80 isinserted into the upper rail 4 from the direction of the rear end of theupper rail 4 while the upper surfaces of the guide portions 82, 83, and84, respectively, are slidably made in contact with the lower surface ofthe cover wall portion 15 of the upper rail 4. Then, the fittingprojections 85 are moved forward in such a manner that respective upperends of the fitting projections 85 are being elastically deformed towardan inner side in the width direction by the inner wall surfaces of theside wall portions 14. Afterward, the fitting projections 85 are movedto the fitting bores 86, respectively, so as to be fitted thereto byreturning to the initial shape from the elastically deformed shape. As aresult, the memory holding bracket 80 is fixed to the upper rail 4 so asnot to move in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the memoryholding bracket 80 includes a protruding lock portion 87 formed in acolumn and protruding upward from an intermediate portion of theconnecting portion 81 a, which is surrounded by the guide portions 84(the intermediate portion of the connecting portion 81 a approximatelycorresponds to an intermediate portion in the width direction of thesecond rail 4).

A resin cover 90 for covering the rear end of the upper rail 4 is fittedthereto. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the cover 90 is configured to besymmetric in the width direction while including a cover plate 91. Thecover plate 91 is formed is so as to have an approximate hat shape,which conforms to a projection plane of the cover plate 91 together withthe memory holding bracket 80 when the upper rail 4 is seen from thelongitudinal direction. The cover plate 91 is formed so as not tointerfere with the movement of the memory piece 30 in the longitudinaldirection in a condition where the memory pin 33 is pressed into theslider body 31. The cover 90 further includes a pair of ribbed fittingwall portions 92 protruding forward from the cover plate 91. Each of theribbed fitting wall portions 92 has an outer wall surface fittable tothe inner wall surface of each side wall portion 14. Furthermore, thecover 90 includes a pair of support portions 93 having claws formed toprotrude forward from an upper portion of the cover plate 91 along sidesurfaces of the protruding lock portion 87 in the width direction.

Moreover, the cover 90 includes a pair of fitting portions 94 and a pairof long extending portions 95. The fitting portions 94 are formed intrapezoids protruding forward from a lower portion of the cover plate91. Each of the fitting portions 94 has an outer wall surface fittableto a curved shape formed by an inner wall surface of each folding wallportion 16. Each of the extending portions 95 protrudes forward from thecover plate 91 along the inner wall surface of the side wall portion 14.The extending portion 95 is arranged further inside than the fittingportion 94 and adjacent thereto in the width direction. An end portionof the extending portion 95 is divided into upper and lower portionsforming a placing portion 95 a and a cover portion 95 b, respectively.

Further, the cover 90 includes a pair of flat plate-shaped restrictingportions 96 extending forward so as to conform to a clearance C1 definedbetween the connecting portion 81 a and one of the fitting projections85 and between the connecting portion 81 a and the other of the fittingprojections 85. The cover 90 configured as described above is firstinserted from the direction of the rear end of the upper rail 4 to whichthe memory holding bracket 80 is attached, along the longitudinaldirection. At this time, the extending portions 95 slide on the innerwall surfaces of the side wall portions 14, respectively, and theplacing portions 95 a are placed on the cut and lift pieces 46,respectively. Then, the cut and lift pieces 46 and the placing portions95 a are covered by the cover portions 95 b from the direction of therear end of the upper rail 4 and thereby are prevented from beingexposed to the outer side of the upper rail 4.

Furthermore, the restricting portions 96 are inserted in the clearanceC1 defined between the connecting portion 81 a and one of the fittingprojections 85 and between the connecting portion 81 a and the other ofthe fitting projections 85 and thereby restrict the fitting projections85 fitted in the fitting bores 86, respectively, from being deformedtoward the inner side in the width direction. That is, the fittingprojections 85 restrict the fitting projections 86 from being deformedtoward a direction in which the fitting projections 85 are loosened fromthe fitting bores 86, respectively. Thus, the cover 90 is attached tothe rear end portion of the memory holding bracket 80; the memoryholding bracket 80 is firmly fixed to the upper rail 4.

Moreover, the claws formed at tip ends of the support portions 93,respectively, slide on the side surfaces of the protruding lock portion87 in the width direction; thereby, the support portions 93 are movedforward in the longitudinal direction of the upper rail 4 whilerespective front ends of the support portions 93 are elasticallydeformed so as to be away from the protruding lock portion 87. Then, theclaws of the tip ends of the support portions 93 are moved furtherforward than the protruding lock portion 87 and loosened therefrom,therefore returning from the elastically deformation. As a result, thesupport portions 93 support therebetween the protruding lock portion 87in the width direction. Thus, the cover 90 is fixed to the memoryholding bracket 80 (upper rail 4) so as not to move in the longitudinaldirection. In addition, upper surfaces of the support portions 93,respectively, make contact with the lower surface of the cover wallportion 15 and the placing portions 95 a are placed on the cut and liftpieces 46, respectively; thereby, the position of the cover 90 relativeto the upper rail 4 in the vertical direction is determined.

Moreover, the fitting wall portions 92 are fitted to the inner wallsurfaces of the pair of side wall portions 14 and the fitting portions94 are fitted to folding wall portions 16 in a manner to conform to thecurved shapes of the inner wall surfaces of the folding wall portions16. When the cover 90 is fixed to the upper rail 4 and the memoryholding bracket 80 as described above, an end face of the rear end ofthe upper rail 4 and the memory holding bracket 80 are covered by thecover plate 91 of the cover 90.

In addition to the aforementioned effects of the first embodiment,following effects may be obtained by the seat slide apparatus accordingto the second embodiment. According to the second embodiment, thefitting projections 85 are simply fitted to the fitting bores 86,respectively. Thus, with such simple configuration, the memory holdingbracket 80 may be prevented from being loosened from the upper rail 4.

According to the second embodiment, the restricting portions 96 makecontact with inner surfaces of the fitting projections 85, respectively,in the width direction; therefore, the elastic deformation of thefitting projections 85 is restricted. For example, even when an externalforce is applied to the fitting projections 85, the fitting projections85 may be prevented from being detached from the fitting bores 86.

According to the second embodiment, the support portions 93 supporttherebetween the protruding lock portion 87 in the width direction,thereby preventing the cover 90 from being detached from the memoryholding bracket 80. In addition, the memory holding bracket 80 may beprevented from being loosened from the upper rail 4 by the cover 90 thatis prevented from being detached from the memory holding bracket 80.

According to the second embodiment, the placing portions 95 a are placedon the cut and lift pieces 46, respectively, in the width direction;thereby, the orientation of the cover 90 is surely stabilized.Additionally, the cut and lift pieces 46 are covered by the coverportions 95 b, respectively, from the direction of the rear end of theupper rail 4, therefore preventing the occupant from accidentallytouching the cut and lift pieces 46.

The seat slide apparatus according to the first and second embodimentsmay be modified as follows. The front edge portion (support portion 61b) of the memory holding bracket 60, 80 may be supported by a differentsupport bracket from the front stopper bracket 50 as required.

In the first and second embodiments, the cut and lift piece 46 may beformed at only one side of the upper rail 4 in the width direction, andthe flange 43 of the foremost stopper bracket 41, engageable with thecut and lift piece 46 may be formed at only one side of the foremoststopper bracket 41 in the width direction. In addition, a cutout pieceserving as a stopper portion and cut from the lower rail 3 so as toprotrude therefrom upward may be applied instead of the flange 43.

In the first and second embodiments, a relation between the lower rail 3and the upper rail 4 in the vertical direction may be reversed. In otherwords, the upper rail 4 may be fixed to the vehicle floor 2 and thelower rail 3 may be fixed to the seat 5.

In the first and second embodiments, the seat slide apparatus may beconfigured so that the single lower rail 3 and the single upper rail 4may be arranged relative to the seat 5. Alternatively, the seat slideapparatus may be configured so that the three or more than three lowerrails 3 and the three or more than three upper rails 4 may be arrangedrelative to the seat 5.

In the first and second embodiments, a moving direction of the seat 5 inaccordance with the relative movement of the upper rail 4 to the lowerrail 3 may be applied, for example, to the width direction of thevehicle.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the memoryholding bracket 60 is inserted from the rear side to toward the frontside of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3 in the inner voidS; thereby, the front edge portion of the memory holding bracket 60 issupported by the front stopper bracket 50. In addition, the fittingprojections 67 are engaged with the cutout portions 47 to therebyprevent the memory holding bracket 60 from being loosened from the upperrail 4. Accordingly, the memory holding bracket 60 is assembled towardthe front side of the upper rail 4 and therefore is fixed to the upperrail 4. Consequently, assemblability of the memory holding bracket 60relative to the upper rail 4 may be increased. In particular, the innervoid S is opened in a direction into which the memory holding bracket 60is inserted; therefore, the memory holding bracket 60 may be fixed tothe upper rail 4 even after the upper rail 4 is assembled to the lowerrail 3. As a result, the assemblability of the memory holding bracket 60relative to the upper rail 4 may be further increased. In addition, thememory holding bracket 60 is fixed to the upper rail 4 without atightening member such as a pin and the like, therefore reducing thenumber of components.

According to the aforementioned first and second embodiments, the upperrail 4 includes a pair of side wall portions 14 and the cover wallportion 15 connecting the upper ends of the side wall portions 14 in thewidth direction of the upper rail 4. The cutout portion 47 (fitting bore86) includes the pair of fitting bores 47, 86 opened in the side wallportions 14, respectively, along the width direction of the upper rail4. The fitting projection 67, 85 includes the pair of fittingprojections 67, 85. When the memory holding bracket 60, 80 is beinginserted into the upper rail 4, the pair of fitting projections 67, 85are pressed to the side wall portions 14, respectively, elasticallydeformed toward the inner side in the width direction, elasticallyreturned to the fitting bores 47, 86 in an extending manner toward theouter side in the width direction, and fitted to the fitting bores 47,86.

Thus, the fitting projections 67 are simply fitted into the cutoutportions 47 to thereby prevent the memory holding bracket 60 from beingremoved from the upper rail 4.

According to the aforementioned first and second embodiment, the upperrail 4 includes the pair of folding wall portions 16 folded from therespective lower ends of the side wall portions 14 so as to be bentoutwardly in the width direction. The fitting bores 47 are formed at thelower ends of the side wall portions 14, respectively. The lower ends ofthe side wall portions 14 are externally covered by the folding wallportions 16 in the width direction. The fitting projections 67 arearranged at the lower ends of the side wall portions 14 surrounded bythe folding wall portions 16, thereby being prevented from being exposedto the outer side of the upper rail 4. In addition, the fittingprojections 67 may be restricted from being detached from the fittingbores 47, for example, by the external force acting on the upper rail 4.

According to the aforementioned first and second embodiment, the lowerrail 3 includes the pair of flanges 43. The upper rail 4 includes thepair of cut and lift pieces 46 cut from the side wall portions 14,respectively, so as to protrude toward the inner side in the widthdirection and limiting a movable range of the upper rail 4 relative tothe lower rail 3 by engaging with the flanges 43 in accordance with themovement of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3. The fittingbores 47 are cutout portions formed in accordance with the formation ofthe cut and lift pieces 46.

Thus, each of the cutout portions 47 fitted with the fitting projections67 may be formed so as to conform to the shape of the cut and lift piece46. Accordingly, manufacturing hours of the seat slide apparatus may bereduced compared to a case where fitting bores are additionally formedin the upper rail 4.

According to the aforementioned first embodiment, the memory holdingbracket 60 includes the pair of placing portions 67 a placed on the cutand lift pieces 46, respectively.

Accordingly, the orientation of the memory holding bracket 60 may befurther stabilized. In addition, the cut and lift pieces 46 are coveredby the cover portions 67 b to thereby prevent the occupant fromaccidentally touching the cut and lift pieces 46.

According to the aforementioned second embodiment, the seat slideapparatus further includes the cover 90 attached to the upper rail 4 andcovering the rear end of the upper rail 4. The cover 90 includes therestricting portions 96 contacting respective inner side faces of thefitting projections 85 in the width direction of the upper rail 4 andrestricting the elastic deformation of the fitting projections 85 fittedto the fitting bores 86.

Accordingly, the restricting portions 96 make contact with the innersurfaces of the fitting projections 85, respectively, in the widthdirection; therefore, the elastic deformation of the fitting projections85 is restricted. For example, even when the external force is appliedto the fitting projections 85, the fitting projections 85 may beprevented from being detached from the fitting bores 86.

According to the aforementioned second embodiment, the memory holdingbracket 80 includes the protruding lock portion 87 formed to verticallyprotrude from an intermediate portion in the width direction of theupper rail 4. The cover 90 includes the pair of support portions 93supporting therebetween the protruding lock portion 87 in the widthdirection.

Accordingly, the cover 90 is prevented from being detached from thememory holding bracket 80. In addition, the memory holding bracket 80may be prevented from being loosened from the upper rail 4 by the cover90 that is prevented from being detached from the memory holding bracket80.

According to the aforementioned second embodiment, the lower rail 3includes the pair of flanges 43. The upper rail 4 includes the pair ofcut and lift pieces 46 cut from the side wall portions 14 so as toprotrude toward the inner side in the width direction of the upper rail4 and limiting the movable range of the upper rail 4 relative to thelower rail 3 by engaging with the flanges 43 in accordance with themovement of the upper rail 4 relative to the lower rail 3. The cover 90includes the pair of placing portions 95 a placed on the cut and liftpieces 46.

The orientation of the cover 90 is surely stabilized.

According to the first and second embodiments, the front stopper bracket50 is utilized as the support bracket 50.

Accordingly, the number of component of the sea slide apparatus may bereduced.

The principles, preferred embodiment and mode of operation of thepresent invention have been described in the foregoing specification.However, the invention which is intended to be protected is not to beconstrued as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further,the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrativerather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by others,and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all suchvariations, changes and equivalents which fall within the spirit andscope of the present invention as defined in the claims, be embracedthereby.

1. A seat slide apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a first rail; asecond rail slidably movable relative to the first rail; a lock memberrestricting a movement of the second rail relative to the first rail; amemory member movably supported within an inner void that is formedbetween the first rail and the second rail in a longitudinal directionof the first rail, the memory member being prevented from moving by anengagement with the first rail; a first holding member fixed to thesecond rail and holding the memory member so that the memory member ismovable along with the second rail in a condition where the restrictedmovement of the second rail relative to the first rail by the lockmember is released in accordance with an operation of an operationhandle; a second holding member holding the memory member so as tomaintain the engagement between the memory member and the first rail ina condition where the restricted movement of the second rail relative tothe first rail by the lock member is released in accordance with aforward tilting movement of a seat back of a seat configured to be fixedto the second rail; a support bracket fixed to the second rail in theinner void and supporting one end portion of the second holding memberinserted toward one side in the moving direction of the second railrelative to the first rail; and a rail-side engagement portion arrangedat the second rail, the rail-side engagement portion being engaged witha holding-member-side engagement portion, which is formed at the otherend portion of the second holding member, and preventing the secondholding member from being loosened from the second rail.
 2. The seatslide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second rail includes apair of side wall portions and a cover wall portion connecting upperends of the side wall portions in a width direction of the second rail,wherein the rail-side engagement portion includes a pair of fittingbores opened in the side wall portions, respectively, along the widthdirection of the second rail, and wherein the holding-member-sideengagement portion includes a pair of fitting projections, and when thesecond holding member is being inserted into the second rail, the pairof fitting projections are pressed to the side wall portions,respectively, elastically deformed toward an inner side in the widthdirection, elastically returned to the fitting bores in an extendingmanner toward an outer side in the width direction, and fitted to thefitting bores.
 3. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe second rail includes a pair of folding wall portions folded fromrespective lower ends of the side wall portions so as to be bentoutwardly in the width direction, and wherein the fitting bores areformed at the lower ends of the side wall portions, respectively, thelower ends being externally covered by the folding wall portions in thewidth direction.
 4. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the first rail includes a pair of stopper portions, wherein thesecond rail includes a pair of cut and lift portions cut from the sidewall portions, respectively, so as to protrude toward the inner side inthe width direction and limiting a movable range of the second railrelative to the first rail by engaging with the stopper portions inaccordance with the movement of the second rail relative to the firstrail, and wherein the fitting bores are cutout portions formed inaccordance with the formation of the cut and lift portions.
 5. The seatslide apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second holding memberincludes a pair of placing portions placed on the cut and lift portions,respectively.
 6. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 2, furthercomprising a cover attached to the second rail and covering a rear endof the second rail, wherein the cover includes restricting portionscontacting respective inner side faces of the fitting projections in thewidth direction of the second rail and restricting the elasticdeformation of the fitting projections fitted to the fitting bores. 7.The seat slide apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the secondholding member includes a protruding lock portion formed to verticallyprotrude from an intermediate portion in the width direction of thesecond rail, and wherein the cover includes a pair of support portionssupporting therebetween the protruding lock portion in the widthdirection.
 8. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thefirst rail includes a pair of stopper portions, wherein the second railincludes a pair of cut and lift portions cut from the side wall portionsso as to protrude toward the inner side in the width direction of thesecond rail and limiting a movable range of the second rail relative tothe first rail by engaging with the stopper portions in accordance withthe movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, and whereinthe cover includes a pair of placing portions placed on the cut and liftportions.
 9. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thefirst rail includes a pair of stopper portions, wherein the second railincludes a pair of cut and lift portions cut from the side wall portionsso as to protrude toward the inner side in the width direction of thesecond rail and limiting a movable range of the second rail relative tothe first rail by engaging with the stopper portions in accordance withthe movement of the second rail relative to the first rail, and whereinthe cover includes a pair of placing portions placed on the cut and liftportions.
 10. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thefirst holding member is utilized as the support bracket.
 11. The seatslide apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first holding memberis utilized as the support bracket.
 12. The seat slide apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the first holding member is utilized asthe support bracket.
 13. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the first holding member is utilized as the support bracket. 14.The seat slide apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first holdingmember is utilized as the support bracket.
 15. The seat slide apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the first holding member is utilized asthe support bracket.
 16. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the first holding member is utilized as the support bracket. 17.The seat slide apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first holdingmember is utilized as the support bracket.
 18. The seat slide apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the first holding member is utilized asthe support bracket.